Kites are shown as a symbol of happiness and betrayal over Amir’s life. It also has a loop of goods and bad things. A kite is the symbol of freedom and with freedom you can almost do anything. When Amir was little flying kite with Hassan was one of his favorite memories. It brought such happiness to Amir’s life when he was spending that time with Hassan; Hassan felt the same way about Amir. The kite was also a way for Amir and Baba to connect. A way for Baba to be proud of Amir, Or so Amir thought “We actually deceived ourselves into thinking that a troy made of tissue paper, glue. And bamboo could somehow close the chasm between us.”- Amir. Amir now realizes that the kite couldn’t actually bring them closer. The chasm wouldn’t disappear because of a kite. Amir had to realize that him and Baba had to close the chasm themselves.
The kite shows betrayal through Hassans rape. After Hassans assault Amir never wants to see a kite again. The kite reminds him of guilt and betrayal. Not only the betrayal of a friendship, but the betrayal of brotherhood. “There were 2 things I couldn’t stop looking at: One was the blue kite resting against the wall, the other was Hassans brown corduroy pants throw on the heap of bricks.”-Amir. Through this quote it shows that Amir had a choice to make. The love of Baba or the Friendship of Hassan.
Thus, the loop ends with Sorhab. When Amir teaches Sorhab to fly kites he feels no guilt when he sees kites because of the redemption he’s done with Sorhab. Amir feels like he has saved a little part of Hassan.
Therefore in conclusion, showing that the kite represents a good symbol of betrayal and happiness in Amirs life.
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I think the kites could also show something else. The kites used in Afghanistan aren't just normal kites, they also have a sharp edge to them because of their inlaid glass string. So although the kites do symbolize freedom, they could also show that freedom can be taken away, because the kites cut down other kites. This could be shown in the novel by Afghanistan being taken over by other Afghans so the kites might have been almost foreshadowing the book.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this topic but I also feel that kites first help the reader to establish the class difference between Amir & Hassan. In kite races one boy controls the kite while the other boy helps by feeding the string. Hasaan may help the kite do certain things but it's Amir who claims victory if they win. Just as Hasaan acts as a servant to Amir in his home the same is displayed in a kite fight.
ReplyDeleteI agree with michaela about how the kites show loyalty. At the end of the book when Amir repeats the words of his once loyal friend Hassan by saying, " For you a thousand times over!" to Sohrab, it signifies also Amirs redemption. It shows Amir's redemption through his ability to show undying loyalty and love like Hassan had once shown him so at the same time it shows the meshing of identity between Amir and Hassan. Therefore, because the kite symbolizes loyalty, it allows the readers pick up on subtle clues such as, Amir's redemption and the meshing of idenity between Amir and Hassan.
ReplyDeleteI think that the kite, and especially running the kite, symbolizes loyalty. Amir runs the kite at the end of the novel just as Hassan had run the kite at the beginning of the novel. The kite represents that they were, and in Amir's case, are, trying to make someone happy and maintain the loyalty of the relationship. When Hassan had run the kite, he was trying to please Amir from the goodness of his heart. Then, when Amir runs the kite, he is trying to please Sohrab from the newly-developed goodness of his heart. The running of the kite represents how similar Amir and Hassan really are, in that they both desire to stay loyal and trustworthy in certain relationships.
ReplyDeletenice written
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